On Archaeology, Forgeries and Public Awareness: The "James Brother of Jesus” Ossuary in Retrospect

From the retrospect of almost a decade, the stories of the “Brother of Jesus” ossuary and the
“Jehoash Inscription” will probably be recorded as an insignificant footnote in the history of the archaeological research of the Holy Land. Nevertheless, like the “Shapira Affair” in
the nineteenth century, they are still likely to arouse the imagination of future mystery writers and filmmakers who, in the style of Indiana Jones, might make a decent living from the
intriguing plot which has all the ingredients of a fascinating detective story.

The sensational publication in late 2002 of a bombastic “archaeological discovery” of unknown provenance caused both professional and public uproar, actively assisted by the local
and international media. Ostensibly, this was the dream come true of every historian and archaeologist – an object bearing an inscription linking the material find to a well-known
historical figure, James, the brother of Jesus. In this case the artifact also aroused strong religious and emotional reactions, increasing the confusion.

The object in question was revealed to the public in New York in a magnificent ceremony in typical Hollywood style produced by the famed film director James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar),
followed by tremendous public exposure in a huge exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. It is a modest ossuary made of Jerusalem limestone and dating to the Second Temple
period, the likes of which are known to the thousands from the city’s cemeteries. The ossuary was engraved with an inscription in ancient Hebrew indicating three names that were
common amongst Jews in the Land of Israel during the Second Temple period: יעקב, יוסף, ישוע – Jacob (James), Joseph and Yeshua (Jesus). The rare combination of these three names led a
world renowned paleographer, Professor André Lemaire, to publish an article in which he suggested that these names relate to one of the major historical figures of early Christianity:
James the brother of Jesus, who lived and was active in Jerusalem during the period in question. This combination of names fired the imagination of the producers of the extravagant
Hollywood show who made it a worldwide public knowledge. Consequently a number of articles and books were published, all of which dealt with the question – was it or wasn’t it? Is this
indeed the "real thing", the original ossuary in which the bones of James, brother of Jesus, were interrede?

What is the whole issue about? Ossuaries, small burial chests, are the most prevalent archaeological finds in funerary complexes from the late Second Temple period in Jerusalem and the
Judean Shephelah, and characteristic of Jewish burial at the time. The unique burial process involving the ossuaries was introduced around 30 BCE and was common until the destruction of
the Second Temple in 70 CE. It was conducted in two stages: upon the death of an individual his relatives would bring his body to the family burial cave for interment, where it would be
placed inside an elongated, rock-hewn loculus. On the first anniversary of the person’s passing the family would return to the cave with an ossuary they had purchased, in which
they would gather the deceased’s bones. The ossuary was then placed inside the family burial cave and often the name of the deceased would be engraved with a nail on the side of the
chest.

Since the beginning of archaeological research in Jerusalem, some 150 years ago, more than 1,000 burial caves dating to the late Second Temple period were discovered in the vicinity of
the city, yielding thousands of ossuaries. Most of the caves were discovered during modern construction and development work; some of them were excavated by archaeologists and many
others were destroyed by bulldozers or were plundered in illicit excavations. Thus the ossuary became one of the most common products in Jerusalem’s flourishing antiquities market.

The inscriptions on the ossuaries constitute an unfailing source for scientific research. Of the hundreds of inscriptions that have been published several apparently mention known
historical figures. One of the most famous inscriptions on ossuaries was discovered in 1902 on the estate of Sir John Gray-Hill, at the top of Mount Scopus (today within the grounds of
the Hebrew University botanical gardens). This ossuary, discovered inside a large and elaborate burial cave along with many other ossuaries, bears a Greek inscription mentioning the
name “Nicanor of Alexandria”, who was probably the donor of a gate for the Temple in Jerusalem. The inscription stirred up some excitement, and an academic argument ensued concerning
its authenticity. This debate was actually resolved by the distinguished French researcher Charles Clermont-Ganneau who shortly after the discovery published a comprehensive paper
proving that this was indeed an original inscription; he relayed in part on the fact that the provenance of the inscribed ossuary was well-known: an ancient burial cave from the Second
Temple period.

Two other ossuaries with inscriptions mentioning historical figures from the Second Temple period were discovered in the 1990s, in the course of salvage excavations conducted by the
Israel Antiquities Authority in the vicinity of Jerusalem. One cites the name יהוסף בר קיפא - “Yehosef bar Kayafa", possibly identified with Caiapahs, the same person who served as a
high priest in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus of Nazareth; the other inscription refers to a man named Ariston, from Apamea in Syria, who is also mentioned in the Mishnah as a person
who contributed his first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem. Although the two inscriptions were discovered in proper archaeological excavations and in burial caves that were not damaged
by illicit digging, it is in no way certain that these are indeed the same historical figures that are mentioned in the written sources, and a number of articles in the scientific
literature have addressed this issue.

The main question raised by these inscriptions raise is whether they bear actual evidence of the same historical personality. The rare combination of names by itself does not constitute
unequivocal proof of identification with the historical figure in question. A quick look in today's Israel phone books, for example, will turn up several people named Moshe Dayan. But
is it possible to identify each of them with the renowned Israeli general, politician and antiquities collector Moshe Dayan? Of course not.

Already at the time of the sensational publication of the "James brother of Jesus" ossuary a heavy shadow was cast on this "discovery". The unclear provenance of the ossuary and the
fact that it surfaced in the antiquities market in Jerusalem raised serious concerns regarding the authenticity of the inscription. Archaeological research of the Holy Land abounds with
stories of artifact forgeries. These objects were often produced by modern artists that succeeded in deceiving even the most experienced scholars. As early as 1885 Clermont-Ganneau
published a book that focused on antiquities forgeries made by expert artists, including a fake inscription on an ossuary. A more famous incident is the “Shapira Affair” from the same
period, which dealt with the exploits of a Jerusalem antiquities dealer who created “Moabite" artifacts in his atelier and sold them to scholars and other interested parties, while
instigating arguments in the academic community of the time regarding the origin and interpretation of the “ancient” finds that he himself had produced.

The fact that the “James” ossuary had not been discovered in a proper archaeological excavation fueled the notion of it being an act of artistic forgery. This suspicion increased when
close to the time of the ossuary’s publication another sensational "discovery" of unclear provenance also surfaced at the local antiquities market and made the international
headlines – a monumental inscription dating to the First Temple period that was ascribed to Jehoash, King of Judah. The discovery of two objects connected to ancient history, appearing
suspiciously on the heels of each other, seemed a little too good to be true, but the media fuss and public interest around the discoveries did not subside. In order to investigate into
the matter the Israel Antiquities Authority established two committees of experts that examined the paleography of the inscriptions and the objects themselves. These committees
concluded that while the objects are apparently genuine, the inscriptions were engraved in the modern era. And indeed, following a police investigation, a well-known antiquities
collector was arrested shortly thereafter and charged with forging the inscriptions.

However, unlike the usual media sensations that vanish as rapidly as they appear, the discussion surrounding these objects and their presumed ancient provenance continued for a long
time, and the debate over “is this the real thing?” refused to wane. Dozens of articles and a number of books were written on the subject. These in turn drew responses, sometimes quite
angry, accusations, responses to responses, and even conspiracy theories.

It seems the story of these artifacts engulfs within it much more than a scholarly debate. It illustrates the passion of large segments of the modern public in the western world for
genuine archaeological finds that are connected to leading historical and religious figures of early Judaism and Christianity. The desire to see and feel “the real thing” attracted tens
of thousands of visitors to the Toronto museum to examine the modest ossuary from Jerusalem.

This old desire, rooted in western civilization and comparable to the veneration of holy relics in Byzantine and Medieval times, still feeds the thriving antiquities markets in the
Middle East and Europe. It seems that the astonishing public awareness to the newly discovered "relics" deserves scientific examination within the fields of psychology and sociology,
rather than within the field of archaeology.

From the retrospect of almost a decade, the stories of the “Brother of Jesus” ossuary and the “Jehoash Inscription” will probably be recorded as an insignificant footnote in the history
of the archaeological research of the Holy Land. Nevertheless, like the “Shapira Affair” in the nineteenth century, they are still likely to arouse the imagination of future mystery
writers and filmmakers who, in the style of Indiana Jones, might make a decent living from the intriguing plot which has all the ingredients of a fascinating detective story.

Shanks, H. and Witherington, B. 2003. The Brother of Jesus – the Dramatic Story and Meaning of the first Archaeological Link to Jesus and His Family. San Francisco.

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Comments (8)

Might not the discovery of clay seals, bearing the names of Gedaliah and Shelemiah (Jeremiah 38:1) arouse the imagination of future mystery writers and filmakers? How about the Tel Dan Stele with its mention of the "House of David" (I Kings 12:19, 13:2; Isaiah 7:2; Psalm 122:5)? These are indeed the same historical figures that are mentioned in the written sources! Should fear of another "Shapira Affair" diminish the importance of all future discoveries? The old desire, rooted in western civilization, to see and feel "the real thing" is simply a desire for truth and there will always be those who take advantage of a situation. I, for one, remain convinced that the "Brother of Jesus" ossuary and the "Jehoash Inscription" will probably be recorded as significant headlines in the history of archaeological research of the Holy Land.

#1 - abchrysler - 03/15/2011 - 03:39

One wonders why the author is recycling the IAA ancient “story” about the so-called “Forgeries Trial” such a short time before the verdict is announced by the judge ?
Ignoring deliberately the testimonies of 120 witnesses unfolded during the last 6 years in court sessions.
Is this the first swallow of a new brain wash campaign to influence the public opinion?
Moreover, the educated author in the affair of the Temple Mount archaeological destruction declared in the Israeli television a decade ago, that nothing except Islamic remnants can be found within the 250 trucks load of removed earth.
Ask Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Zweig how “true” this is?

#2 - Dandill - 03/16/2011 - 22:13

Please note that not one article concerning the Yeho'ash Inscription (=YI) is mentioned in Avni's bibliography! Since I believe that I have written the most detailed article concerning the YI (lines 1-14) and my published position on the question of the authenticity of the YI has been ignored by Avni, I think that the value of Avni's conclusions concerning the YI must be called into question. My position concerning the possible authenticity of the YI is as follows (based only on my philological analysis of this inscription):
"In order to remove any possible doubt concerning my position as regards the authenticity, I wish to emphasize at the outset that I do not know whether or not this inscription is genuine. I do contend, however, that it can not be proven philologically to be a modern-day forgery. I would also add that if nevertheless the YI does turn out to be a forgery, then it is a most brilliant forgery in my opinion."
(C. Cohen, "Biblical Hebrew Philology in the Light of Research on the New Yeho'ash Royal Building Inscription", in M. Lubetski ed., NEW SEALS AND INSCRIPTIONS, HEBREW, IDUMEAN AND CUNEIFORM (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2007), 222-284 (quote is from p. 223).
My second article on the YI (much shorter and covering the remaining material in lines 14-16 of the YI) is in press. I have quoted my conclusion above in that article as well.
The Judge in the aforementioned trial was given a copy of my published article and I was called to testify at this trial on three different occasions. We will soon see what the Judge thinks about the possible authenticity of the YI.

Prof. Chaim Cohen
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

#3 - Prof. Chaim Cohen - 03/17/2011 - 12:36

Just a correction here. James Cameron was not in any way involved in any Hollywood style roll-out of the James ossuary in NY in 2002 or any later time. So far as I know he has never had anything to do with it. Hershel Shanks did hold a press conference in D.C. of his own on October 21, 2002 but Cameron was not there or involved in any way. Instead Shanks presented the basic overview of what appeared in the Nov/Dec, 2002 issue of BAR with the cover story by Lemaire and the story was then picked up by the media that afternoon with an AP story, then all the others.

#4 - James Tabor - 04/04/2011 - 15:11

When I first saw the James ossuary in Toronto in 2002, gathered around were Frank Cross, Joe Fitzmeyer, Kyle McCarter, Stephen Pfann and others--all highly skilled epigraphers. I surely did not have a sense that anyone was gathering around an object of veneration akin to a holy relic or that these serious scholars were somehow being conned by some publicity stunt. The atmosphere and the conversation was calm and thoroughly academic. As to whether the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" taken together, would be considered common in the period I would leave to statisticians like Camil Fuchs who published an academic paper with a thorough analysis of the matter based on what we actually know about name frequencies in Herodian period Jerusalem and their combinations. If the inscription is forged, that is one thing, but my understanding, from the Time magazine/Jerusalem Post press reports by Kalman on the trial is that expert testimony has confirmed that there is original patina in the letters "Yeshua" which had been asserted to be added/forged in modern times. If that is indeed the case, and maybe it was misreported, then it would seem the inscription is not to be dismissed on these grounds. Further, the assertion that this inscription was traced from two entries in Rahmani has equally been refuted by epigraphy experts.

#5 - James Tabor - 04/04/2011 - 15:43

The recent post up on this site by Oded Golan is truly worth reading in view of some of the outcomes of the case regarding both artifacts. So far I have not seen a single response, anywhere...

#6 - James Tabor - 04/14/2011 - 04:06

Prof. Cohen, thank you so very much for your analysis and the references to your important work.

#7 - James Tabor - 04/14/2011 - 04:08

Avni, people involved with the Talpiot Tomb controversy get the sense of "I've been here before" when they read your post. It seems that the legal case is over, but what can we all learn from this case?
Apparently one intriguing question remained: the James Ossuary original location.

#8 - Eldad keynan - 04/17/2011 - 16:38

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